Unlimited Return

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her,"Will you give me a drink?"..."the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  John 4:7,14 NIV

Jesus blessed the Samaritan woman in several ways when He met  her at the well. First, He affirmed that she was significant enough for him to speak to her. Because of her lifestyle, she was looked down on by the villagers and she came to the well when her fellow villagers weren't there. Even though the Jews and Samaritans were antagonistic to each other, Jesus was polite to her and engaged her in meaningful conversation. He taught her about the spiritual water that God gives that leads to eternal life. When He questioned her about her husband, she felt safe enough to be truthful with him about her relationships. Jesus revealed to her that He is the Messiah and she returned to the village to share this with the villagers. They believed her account and come out to see Jesus for themselves. Through this event, the woman was brought back into fellowship with her community. Jesus asked for a drink of water. In return, He gave her a sense of worth, courage to be honest, healed relationships and eternal life.

Sometimes Jesus asks us to get a pail of water. Do I begrudge it? Do I complain about helping another person, especially someone not of my "tribe"? Jesus is always gracious and merciful, and He blesses us many times over for the little acts of goodness that we do because He asked us to do them. I will try to remember the Samaritan woman and how getting one drink of water for Jesus had so many positives outcomes.